Court frees eight ‘Delta Force’ members

Kumasi, May 18, GNA – A Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Madam Patricia Amponsah, has freed eight members of a group, calling itself the “Delta Force” and reported to be aligned with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), arrested for allegedly helping their colleagues to escape from lawful custody, for lack of evidence.

They had been charged with disturbing court session, resisting arrest and freeing 13 persons, who were in lawful custody and pleaded not guilty.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Asumadu Okyere-Darko informed the court of the decision to drop the charges when the case came up for hearing on Wednesday.

It may be recalled that 13 members of the group accused of assaulting a public officer, causing unlawful damage and rioting were on April 06, put before a KMA Circuit Court to answer for their crime.

The court remanded them in prison and that angered their sympathizers who stormed the court room and in the confusion, the accused persons escaped.

All the 13 persons later handed themselves in and were taken into lawful custody.

The police in a search for those who caused the disturbance, arrested the eight persons at locations, their lawyers claimed, were far away from the court premises and profusely argued that their clients could not be linked with what happened.

Mr. Matthew Appiah, one of their lawyers, speaking to journalists, after their clients had been discharged said they had all the time insisted that the prosecution would not be able to prove its case.

The police just wanted to save their face as they were under tremendous pressure – having been taken unawares on the day of the incident, leading to the swoop and arrest of innocent persons, he added.